Magic Valley World Champs

Tools

By
Ngozi Ekeledo

Two different guys, two different generations, and two very different sports—but the same result.

“I won worlds, won nationals, took second at Yankton," Harbaugh said.

“I got first in the high jump category as well as the big air," Hutchinson added.

They're both world champions. Harbuagh—a multiple State and National winner in compound archery—and Hutchinson, a World record holder and Pogopalooza 9 winner this year in California.

"When I was twelve years old, I had a little average dinky pogo stick, but I started doing tricks on it and went online and saw that there was a whole different community,” Hutchinson said.

"My grandfather got me started when I was about eight,” Harbaugh said. “We lived in the country, and I just started shooting rabbits and anything that got in the way."

Both Harbaugh and Hutchinson put in hours of training every day to perfect their craft, but they say the hard work is worth it not only for competitions, but for the new experiences their sport has brought them.

"I just keep practicing all the time and try not to get hurt so I can keep travelling," Hutchinson said.

From Las Vegas to Brazil, these world champs have traveled far and wide for competitions, and they've seen their sports' popularity increase in the past few years.

"Oh it's been unreal,” Harbaugh said. “I went to Yankton this year to the national headquarters and the youth division [in archery] has doubled.”

Both men's future plans don't include slowing down. These Magic Valley world champs have put in too much hard work so expect even more shooting from Harbaugh and extreme pogo tricks from Hutchinson in the years to come.